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. 2022 Jan;601(7893):388-391.
doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03972-8. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Evidence for European presence in the Americas in AD 1021

Margot Kuitems  1 , Birgitta L Wallace  2 , Charles Lindsay  2 , Andrea Scifo  3 , Petra Doeve  4   5 , Kevin Jenkins  2 , Susanne Lindauer  6 , Pınar Erdil  3 , Paul M Ledger  7   8 , Véronique Forbes  7 , Caroline Vermeeren  9 , Ronny Friedrich  6 , Michael W Dee  10
Affiliations

Evidence for European presence in the Americas in AD 1021

Margot Kuitems et al. Nature. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Transatlantic exploration took place centuries before the crossing of Columbus. Physical evidence for early European presence in the Americas can be found in Newfoundland, Canada1,2. However, it has thus far not been possible to determine when this activity took place3-5. Here we provide evidence that the Vikings were present in Newfoundland in AD 1021. We overcome the imprecision of previous age estimates by making use of the cosmic-ray-induced upsurge in atmospheric radiocarbon concentrations in AD 993 (ref. 6). Our new date lays down a marker for European cognisance of the Americas, and represents the first known point at which humans encircled the globe. It also provides a definitive tie point for future research into the initial consequences of transatlantic activity, such as the transference of knowledge, and the potential exchange of genetic information, biota and pathologies7,8.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Date ranges obtained from our wiggle matches in comparison with legacy 14C data.
a, b, Averaged probability density functions for different sample types (Extended Data Fig. 3, Supplementary Note 5 and Supplementary Data 1). a, Samples susceptible to inbuilt age. Light blue, whale bone (n = 1, uncorrected for marine reservoir effect); red, wood (n = 17); brown, burnt wood (n = 7); black, charcoal (n = 22). b, Short-lived samples. Light green, turf or sod from the Norse buildings (n = 4); olive, outermost rings and twigs from Norse-modified wood (n = 4). c, Wiggle-matched probability density functions for the last growth ring of each wood item. Dark green, 4A 59 E3-1; navy, 4A 68 J4-6; orange, 4A 68 E2-2. Source data
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Exact date matches obtained from the χ2 tests.
The wood items are identified as follows: 4A 59 E3-1 (dark green); 4A 68 J4-6 (navy); 4A 68 E2-2 (orange). a, Outputs of the χ2 test against B2018 (ref. ; d.f. = 5, critical value = 11.07, 95% probability), where the gold cross marks the year of best fit for the waney edge. b, All of the 14C data from 4A 59 E3-1 (n = 12, 1σ), 4A 68 J4-6 (n = 35, 1σ) and 4A 68 E2-2 (n = 29, 1σ) superimposed on IntCal20 (light blue, 1σ). Inset: detail of the 14C results (error bars omitted for legibility) for growth rings −31 to −26 against B2018 (grey, 1σ) and IntCal20 (light blue). Source data
Extended Data Fig. 1
Extended Data Fig. 1. North Atlantic regions explored by the Norse.
LAM lies on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. The map shows the main settlements on Greenland from where the Norse embarked, and the regions they named Helluland, Markland and Vinland. Map: R. Klaarenbeek.
Extended Data Fig. 2
Extended Data Fig. 2. Schematic overview of the site (after Wallace 2003) and origin of our samples.
Indicated are the contours of different Norse structures (A–J) and the locations (brown) at which the wood items were found that are used in the current study.
Extended Data Fig. 3
Extended Data Fig. 3. The 55 legacy 14C dates on Norse contexts at LAM.
Samples susceptible to inbuilt age: light blue, whale bone (n = 1, uncorrected for Marine Reservoir Effect); red, wood (n = 17); brown, burnt wood (n = 7); black, charcoal (n = 22). Short-lived samples: light green, turf or sod samples from the walls of the Norse buildings (n = 4); olive, outermost rings and twigs from Norse-modified wood (n = 4). See Supplementary Data 1.
Extended Data Fig. 4
Extended Data Fig. 4. Overview of the number and order of the different voyages by the Norse to the Americas based on the information from the Sagas.
Indicated for each voyage are the expedition leader (EL), the duration (D), the number of attending crew and the number of ships. Top, summary of the information from the Saga of the Greenlanders, which indicates that the number of winters spent at Vinland is seven. Given the short sailing seasons and the impossibility of making round trips between Greenland and Vinland in one year, the time between the first arrival of the Norse at Vinland and their ultimate return is estimated to be about thirteen years; bottom, summary of the information from the Saga of Erik the Red, with the estimated minimum time between the first arrival of the Norse at Vinland and their ultimate return, amounting to about three years.
Extended Data Fig. 5
Extended Data Fig. 5. Pictures of the wood items studied.
White X indicates the location from where samples were taken. The black bars represent 5 cm. Top left, 4A 59 E3-1; top right, 4A 68 E2-2; bottom left, 4A 68 J4-6; bottom right, 4A 70 B5-14. Photos: M. Kuitems.
Extended Data Fig. 6
Extended Data Fig. 6. Microscope pictures of the thin slices from the wood samples studied.
The white bars represent 0.05 mm, the black bars 0.1 mm. From left to right: radial, tangential and transversal sections of respectively: top, 4A 68 J4-6; middle, 4A 68 E2-2; bottom, 4A 59 E3-1. Photos: M. van Waijjen, BIAX Consult.
Extended Data Fig. 7
Extended Data Fig. 7. Microscopic depiction of the felling season of the waney edge.
The black bars represent 1 mm. ew = early wood, which is formed during the first stage of the growth year; lw = late wood, which is formed at the end of the growth season. a, Wood item 4A 68 E2-2; b, Wood item 4A 68 J4-6. Photos: P. Doeve.
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References

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